Battle in Marawi continues: Reports

June 19, Manila: At least 19 people have died who fled for their lives since fierce fighting broke out in the southern Philippines are dying in over-crowded evacuation centers, health officials say.

Alinader Minalang, the health director for the Lanao del Sur province said, “40,000 people huddled in emergency shelters, gymnasiums and Islamic schools. Among them 300 cases of diarrhea have been recorded.”In these over-crowded evacuation centers, dozen people sleep together on hard concrete floors, and in some places hundreds are sharing a single toilet. "The cause of the increase in diarrhea cases is sanitation issues and a lack of sources of potable water," Minalang said.

Tarhata Mostare, who was staying with more than 800 other people in a high school hall in Iligan City said, “My children are getting sick. One has diarrhea and another has an allergic reaction on his skin – the water we have to use here is not good,".

The army says nearly 350 people have been killed in the fighting, including 257 militants, 62 soldiers and 26 civilians. Hundreds of people are still unaccounted for, believed to be hiding in the basements of a city that has been pummeled by government air strikes. Residents have said they have seen 100 bodies in the debris of ruined homes in the battle zone.